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Young People With Old Ears (Wired News)

Researchers fear the growing popularity of portable music players and other items that attach directly to the ears — including cell phones — is contributing to hearing loss in younger people.

“It’s a different level of use than we’ve seen in the past,” says Robert Novak, director of clinical education in audiology at Purdue University. “It’s becoming more of a full-day listening experience, as opposed to just when you’re jogging.”

Increasingly, Novak says he’s seeing too many young people with “older ears on younger bodies” — a trend that’s been building since the portable Walkman made its debut a few decades back. (more…)